Top 3 managers who could take José Mourinho’s job at Manchester United

by Guilherme Neto

Since the 2018/19 campaign of the English Premier League begun, the performance of Manchester United, one of the great teams in the competition, hasn’t been very inspiring. It looks like the team’s downward spiral from the near dismal performance of the previous season is continuing unabated. In fact, most pundits professed just four games into the league, that Jose Mourinho would make way for a new coach.

To make matters worse, Cityzens, United’s noisy neighbours had a stellar display in 2017/18 that culminated with lifting the Barclays Premier League trophy. These issues combined, hint at the greatest time to look at the likely successors now that Mourinho may end up on the wrong side of the pen.

The list of Manchester United’s possible managers is considerably long, an indication that the position is lucrative and that the thoughts of replacing the Portuguese tactician aren’t so farfetched. Despite all that, the leading contenders are:

1. Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane is a leading tactician among his generation. His spell at Real Madrid is the most fruitful of any manager. During the two and a half seasons he was at the helm at Bernabeu, he helped Los Blancos lift the Champion’s League trophy three consecutive times.

Such nice pickings are the stuff that makes a great manager and is probably the reason he is linked with a move to Old Trafford. Also, the American owners are willing to splash top dollar for a guy who will turn the team around, and Zizou fits the bill.

Zidane could be Mourinho’s replacement in Man United

2. Massimiliano Allegri

Max was tipped to move to either Chelsea or Manchester United sometime in the 2017/18 campaign. At that time, Chelsea’s patience for Antonio Conte was already growing thin, and Manchester United, it is reported, flirted with the idea of replacing Mourinho. Neither move came through but he went ahead to lead Old Lady of Turin to another Serie A title.

Now that Mourinho’s departure is a lot likely, the Italian may just be the man to salvage Manchester United’s fortunes. If anything, his stellar performance in Turin that includes five Serie A titles, a number of Copa Italia trophies and a Champions League runners-up medal may tip the scales in his favour.

3. Mauricio Pochettino

It isn’t the first time the Argentine is linked to the Manchester United job. And, it is reasonable to think of him because he has done a great job at Tottenham Hotspur and, with very modest resources. The Spurs are now regulars in the top flight continental football.

Pochettino’s strong point is his ability to use seemingly average players to get the best result. Just early this season, he managed a comfortable 3-0 thrashing of Manchester United and at Old Trafford no less. Surely, that is a quality that is in need now among the Red Devils.

While these three gentlemen are the real contenders to the throne in old Trafford, other names are popping up as well. Antonio Conte and Leonardo Jardim, for instance, have also been linked with this job. However, since the back and forth in the boardrooms aren’t anything to go by, it probably is best to wait and see who does replace Mourinho if indeed United lets him go.